FRAMINGHAM
- Brothers Jim and Joe Rizoli say they are appealing an 18-month
suspension Access Framingham handed down in response to complaints the
Holocaust deniers were violating policies and traumatizing viewers.
The
Rizolis say the local cable access organization violated their right to
free speech by taking their four shows off the air and suspending their
memberships.
But Access Framingham Executive Director Bill McColgan
said the sanction came after a full administrative hearing into a series
of complaints about the brothers programming.
"We have certain membership policies and procedures that need to be followed," he said.
This
is the second suspension for the Rizolis since 2010, when the brothers,
well known for their critical and controversial views, were kicked off
the air for one year.
Jim Rizoli said Federal Communications
Commission rules protect the programming, and the brothers have appealed
their latest suspension for a review or rehearing.
"We have perfect
right to put anything on," he said, adding that heâd even accept being
banished to the so-called "safe harbor" overnight time slots if people
are so offended by his shows.
"They donât have to watch them," he said. "Just turn them off. They want to just ruin me and take my shows off the air."
Rizoli
said some people were upset the brothers recently broadcast images of
"dead, unclothed bodies of people who died during the Holocaust," but he
called it "history" and said the content of a program is protected.
Rizoli
also dismissed allegations that he and his brother violated Access
Framingham rules, such as by falsifying forms and documents.
"We didnât violate anything," he said. "They trumped up all this stuff saying we did."
McColgan
said Access Framinghamâs Board of Directors will consider whether the
Rizolis have grounds for an appeal, such as new evidence to present.
McColgan
said some of the complaints about the Rizolisâ shows were more
content oriented, "and thats a little bit different in that weâre
not regulating content per se. But there are certain policies and
procedures that all members need to follow," he said.
Rizoli said he and his brother continue to voice their views on their website, www.ccfiile.com, which is focused on illegal immigration, and on YouTube.
He said the cable access suspension is really the result of a "conspiracy to stop free speech."
Danielle Ameden can be reached at 508-626-4416 or dameden@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @damedenMW.

My brother responds

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/article/20140803/OPINION/140809241

Rizoli: Censorship in Framingham

Censorship in Framingham
I will state that I do not agree with everything my brothers say.... but I defend their right to say it ("Rizolis suspended from Framingham cable access TV," July 28).
You either have censorship or you do not. There is no in-between. Once you start censoring one thing, there will always be someone else who does not like what is being said and that will eventually be censored too. Do you see what happens here?
The greatest thing about our country is our right to discuss anything. People who are NOT interested do not have to watch their shows.
The shows, if people watched them, have much good programming. There will always be someone who does not like something. Again, what are they afraid of? People cannot dictate what can be said or not said, as long as you have an intelligent debate about it. Anyone can get on their shows and debate the issues that bother them. This is a basic right which must be preserved.
What is being done here is totally wrong and everyone knows it. Look what your job would be like if someone always told you what you could not talk about....or do they? This is wrong and there is no excuse in the world that makes it right. Someone is just afraid of these people for some reason. Well guess what?? We all have to stand up for this right of free speech or it will eventually see it slip away. I honestly believe it already is. All of the worst governments in history began with censorship and we all know how they ended up. We have to learn from history and it is being written every day.
"If you make people think they’re thinking, they’ll love you; but if you really make them think, they’ll hate you."
– Don Marquis
JOHN RIZOLI
Holliston